Wielding

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God 
Ephesians 6:17

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

The Lord told me while I was praying, "The word is a sword, not a pocketknife."

Your bible is not just a book of words, it is a book of power. Each word was God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and has a purpose that it is destined to accomplish (Isaiah 55:11). And each word is a weapon designed to tear down the strongholds of the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:4). 

But just like with a natural sword, you must train yourself to use this weapon. If you handle it like it's a pocketknife, you will not get effective use out of it. In fact, you may end up just cutting yourself. The sword of the Spirit is a supernatural weapon, so you must rely on the Holy Spirit by faith to become proficient in wielding it. 

Some practical ways to train in the word: 

1. Read it - Nehemiah 8:8 ESV
2. Pray it - John 16:23-24 ESV
3. Speak it out loud - 2 Corinthians 4:14 NIV
4. Learn it/Study it - 2 Timothy 2:15 NASB
5. Memorize it/Know it - Psalm 119:11 ESV

Examples of how to use the word:

• If you are facing the enemy of fear, the word combats it with fear not. Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 10:31, and others
• If you don't know what to do, the word combats it with ask God for wisdom. James 1:5
• If you are worried, the word combats it with be anxious for nothing and provides a strategy to overcome it that leads to peace. Philippians 4:6-7

I encourage you to actively and intentionally brandish the sword of the Spirit. Paul is not speaking lightly when he tells you to arm yourself. You are in real battles facing a real enemy who is not pulling any punches. His goal is to kill, steal, and destroy. Your goal is to declare the victory that has already been secured through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Jesus said, "It is finished." And it is finished. So get on the offense and declare the victory that is. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV